Inspiring Change, One Chapter at a Time

Leslye Kornegay's new book reflects her advocacy for women of color to lead at universities

Leslye Kornegay holds her book, "Leading to Change the World"
Leslye Kornegay, Duke's Executive Director for University Environmental Services and Facilities Management, wrote a book entitled "Leading to Change the World" that was released in September 2024. Photo by Travis Stanley

This story is part of Working老牛影视's "Be You" series, which features staff and faculty who embody Duke's shared values of聽respect, trust, inclusion, discovery and excellence. Stories highlight the unique experiences, backgrounds and cultures that make our colleagues extraordinary and our community stronger. Nominate someone to be featured聽.

It wasn鈥檛 long into Leslye Kornegay鈥檚 career, which started as a housekeeper and quickly progressed to leadership positions in university facilities management, when she had an epiphany.

There were few people who looked like her in similar roles or in the senior positions she aspired to.

Black, female leaders in facilities in higher education at what Kornegay calls 鈥淧WI鈥漵 鈥 Predominantly White Institutions 鈥 have been in short supply since she first started working at universities in the early 1990s.

鈥淚鈥檓 a firm believer that if you set your mind to do something, you can do it,鈥 said Kornegay, who has been Duke鈥檚 Executive Director for University Environmental Services and Facilities Management since 2016.

Kornegay has carved her own career path, which she recounts in her book 鈥,鈥 released in September 2024. The book is a lightly updated version of her 2012 Scholarly Personal Narrative, the culmination of her doctorate in education at University of Vermont.

The book describes how Kornegay worked her way up from a housekeeper position in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to become one of the few Black female facilities executives in the country while never losing sight of her greatest strength: connecting with people.

鈥淎s a leader, I have been able to sustain my leadership by learning how to construct a style that embraces who I am as a Black woman,鈥 Kornegay says in her book. She added later: 鈥淚n doing so, I have found my voice and learned to confront the racism and sexism that often challenge my path.鈥

Kornegay never aspired to work in housekeeping but was 鈥渟teered toward it鈥 after she graduated from high school in eastern North Carolina. After being passed over for promotions, she pursued and achieved both a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree, and her drive to further her education became the foundation of her most valuable early lessons.

鈥淒on鈥檛 let anybody set boundaries for you around what you can do,鈥 she said. 鈥淥nly you know what you can do.鈥

Kornegay鈥檚 natural leadership led to her position at Duke, where she oversees 300 employees and regularly inspires Housekeeping Operations Senior Manager Asia Hicks with her collaborative approach.

鈥淲hen I see someone in a position such as that, it allows me to know that the more you strive and the harder you work, that you鈥檙e able to reach that mountaintop,鈥 Hicks said. 鈥淪he just kind of defies the odds.鈥

That鈥檚 what Kornegay has been striving to do since she first started her career. And that鈥檚 something she hopes she can inspire others to do at Duke.

鈥淒uke has welcomed a strong, Black female leader,鈥 Kornegay said. 鈥淲hile the university has a reputation for hiring top talent, there鈥檚 still more to do. There鈥檚 always room for growth, and I believe the organization recognizes that.鈥

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